Today, when you order "The Gypsy Thread (World's Greatest Magic) - DVD", you'll instantly be emailed a Penguin Magic gift certificate. You can spend it on anything you like at Penguin, just like cash. Just complete your order as normal, and within seconds you'll get an email with your gift certificate.

Imagine owning the most comprehensive magic book ever written. This would surely be a treasured possession for any magician with each chapter focusing on a single aspect of the craft and the very best routines ever created for it. That's the idea behind L&L Publishing's critically-acclaimed DVD series, The World's Greatest Magic by the World's Greatest Magicians. Each volume is like another chapter in the world's best magic book. Featuring in-depth exposition and instruction on some of magic's most cherished and classic effects by its most-talented practitioners, this unprecedented series represents an essential reference work for anyone interested in the magical arts, regardless of their skill level.

The effect that is commonly referred to as Gypsy Thread was first introduced into the literature of magic in 1584 by Provost and ever since, magicians - and presumably their audiences - have been fascinated and enchanted by the simple yet profound concept of a simple strand of thread being broken into small pieces and restored at the magician's fingertips.

On this DVD, you'll see six different interpretations of this straightforward and beautiful trick. Daryl begins with the classic version, complete with several significant Al Baker touches. Geoffrey Buckingham offers tips on how to make the Gypsy Thread the perfect cabaret trick while Bob Read adds his comedic genius. Henry Evans demonstrates his flashy - and completely clean - ending while Cellini teaches a stunning version using yards of thread that could play not only on the street but in the biggest theater. Finally, Eugene Burger performs a highly theatrical trick using the thread as an insightful metaphor.

Gypsy Thread is an iconic trick that can express different things in the hands of different performers and now, with the help of the gifted performers presented here, you'll be able to add this classic of magic to your own act.

This is a good resource for the Gypsy Thread routine. I would also buy the Camarand Academy DVD on
Gypsy thread also available from Penguin and have an excellent understanding of the trick and
numerous presentations using this simple prop. You will have the routines you need to put together
an excellent routine of your own. This is a DVD that is worth the money. Make sure you use the Glow
Thread available from Penguin nothing else comes close.

I saw this performed as a teenager and always thought it was some kind of special thread. I never
realized just how often I'd been fooled until I watched this video. There are several different
presentations here (including a great closer by Kirby Van Burch) and there is definitely something
you can use through all these.

If you're looking for a great effect for a smaller crowd or
even stage, this video will give you a great introduction to the effect and enough information to
help you perform it with confidence. You'll need to go ahead and order the thread separately though
because it's not included and you can't get this stuff at Wal-Mart.